Dr. Leila Fourie is a South African financial-services executive, economist, payments specialist, and business leader with more than 30 years of international experience across banking, capital markets, payments, consulting, and financial technology. She is particularly recognized for her leadership of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), where she served as Group Chief Executive Officer from October 2019 until her retirement from the role on 31 March 2026.
Fourie’s academic background includes a BA (Hons), a Master of Commerce, and a PhD in Economic and Financial Sciences. She was also the recipient of the Economic Society of South Africa’s Founders’ Award in 2012 for the country’s best Master’s thesis in Economics.
She began her career in consulting and later joined Standard Bank, where she held senior positions in investment banking and eventually became Managing Director of the bank’s Card Division. Her work covered credit analytics, capital and portfolio management, securities, payments, and financial services across several international markets.
Fourie subsequently moved to Australia, where she became Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Payments Network and later served as an executive responsible for consumer finance at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Her experience in payments and financial technology gave her a broad understanding of how digital innovation was reshaping modern financial services.
In 2019, Fourie returned to South Africa and was appointed Group CEO of the JSE, effective 1 October. She became only the second woman to lead the institution. Her mandate included strengthening the exchange’s competitiveness, expanding its services, modernising technology and regulatory frameworks, and supporting broader access to capital.
During her tenure, the JSE pursued significant strategic developments, including new sustainability-focused market segments, a private-markets platform, and a voluntary carbon market. The exchange also worked on modernising its technology infrastructure and regulatory environment while diversifying its sources of revenue.
Beyond the JSE, Fourie has contributed to international discussions around sustainable finance, climate investment, financial markets, and economic development. She served as co-chair of the United Nations Global Investors for Sustainable Development (GISD) Alliance and has participated in initiatives connected with sustainable stock exchanges and climate disclosure.
Following her retirement as JSE CEO in March 2026, Fourie has continued her involvement in corporate governance, sustainable finance, and financial-sector leadership. Her career remains an example of how expertise in banking, payments, technology, and capital markets can be combined to influence Africa’s evolving financial ecosystem.
With her extensive international experience and commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusive leadership, Leila Fourie remains an influential figure in African finance and a notable leader in the continent’s financial-technology and capital-markets landscape.